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A review by graff_fuller
Greater Than the Sum by Christopher L. Bennett
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a true TENSION build story. Being the fifth book, and at the outset, not knowing HOW big the Borg were going to be involved...and also making the Borg even MORE menacing than they already are. Jeesh.
The characters within this series and individual books are so well written. One author initiates us into the character's mind/story, but then another author carries it to the next story, then another author...it is so good. We grow to either, love or hate them (sometimes both). This series is doing an amazing job with the ancillary characters that support the main crew of the Enterprise.
I really liked T'Ryssa Chen, being the person that she is (upending expectations) about her race and her character. She's not the model for Starfleet, but she's a character that is used REALLY well in this story. She is OUR eyes/ears, and we believe it, BECAUSE of her natural responses...and there were a number of laugh out loud moments in this book. I had fun with her. Not to say she wasn't frustrating. We know the mold of Starfleet, and she's truly unconventional/unorthodox, for sure.
Security Chief Leybenzon's arc was a surprise, but then also NOT. I grew to like him, and then dislike him, but not wanting him to die (or anything), but I understand his frustrations, too.
Jasminder Choudhury was a good character for the story, and one that could often be overlooked. She definitely has an interesting view on how she "attacks" her job, but one that makes you rethink "how could it be any different" and she shows you how...and that it works...for a reason.
Glad that Miranda Kadohata is back in this story. With what happened in the last book, I had my doubts. Glad that she stuck it out, and her character built upon that previous failure...and is better for it, for her career and for us readers...learning from her struggle. So good.
Interesting new counselor, and the the rank/position is different. Thought that was fixing an "error" of the past, but also making the crew more effective.
Now the main characters from the crew...obviously Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher...and their ongoing struggles were fun to see develop (or not). Their internal dynamics are fun to read about...and also their strengths and insecurities. So well revealed in this story.
Worf and LaForge had two arcs that I enjoyed. Poor Geordi, his love life/work balance is out of skue, that's for sure. Worf, having to deal with a co-worker that "seems" to have a COMPLETELY different view on his former job/position, but how that was resolved was fun to read, too.
The Borg are the main bad guys, obviously...but there's also an added development in this story about the "creatures" that are "in their way", that makes this story interesting and complex.
Not a fan of cliffhangers, but less so...since I am practically binge reading this series.
Not sure WHEN I'll pick up this thread, for I am going back a few steps and reading Taking WIng, #1 in the Titan series. This is a good point to make this transition. I will come back to THIS thread in a bit.
The characters within this series and individual books are so well written. One author initiates us into the character's mind/story, but then another author carries it to the next story, then another author...it is so good. We grow to either, love or hate them (sometimes both). This series is doing an amazing job with the ancillary characters that support the main crew of the Enterprise.
I really liked T'Ryssa Chen, being the person that she is (upending expectations) about her race and her character. She's not the model for Starfleet, but she's a character that is used REALLY well in this story. She is OUR eyes/ears, and we believe it, BECAUSE of her natural responses...and there were a number of laugh out loud moments in this book. I had fun with her. Not to say she wasn't frustrating. We know the mold of Starfleet, and she's truly unconventional/unorthodox, for sure.
Security Chief Leybenzon's arc was a surprise, but then also NOT. I grew to like him, and then dislike him, but not wanting him to die (or anything), but I understand his frustrations, too.
Jasminder Choudhury was a good character for the story, and one that could often be overlooked. She definitely has an interesting view on how she "attacks" her job, but one that makes you rethink "how could it be any different" and she shows you how...and that it works...for a reason.
Glad that Miranda Kadohata is back in this story. With what happened in the last book, I had my doubts. Glad that she stuck it out, and her character built upon that previous failure...and is better for it, for her career and for us readers...learning from her struggle. So good.
Interesting new counselor, and the the rank/position is different. Thought that was fixing an "error" of the past, but also making the crew more effective.
Now the main characters from the crew...obviously Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher...and their ongoing struggles were fun to see develop (or not). Their internal dynamics are fun to read about...and also their strengths and insecurities. So well revealed in this story.
Worf and LaForge had two arcs that I enjoyed. Poor Geordi, his love life/work balance is out of skue, that's for sure. Worf, having to deal with a co-worker that "seems" to have a COMPLETELY different view on his former job/position, but how that was resolved was fun to read, too.
The Borg are the main bad guys, obviously...but there's also an added development in this story about the "creatures" that are "in their way", that makes this story interesting and complex.
Not a fan of cliffhangers, but less so...since I am practically binge reading this series.
Not sure WHEN I'll pick up this thread, for I am going back a few steps and reading Taking WIng, #1 in the Titan series. This is a good point to make this transition. I will come back to THIS thread in a bit.